Published: Monday, November 18, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 15, 2013 at 4:42 p.m.

Denton Mayor Scott Morris was only 23 years old when he began his career as a public servant. He was first elected to the Denton Board of Commissioners in 1981 where he worked with people who had much more experience in running a town than he did.

Denton Mayor Scott Morris stands at the Denton City Hall on Friday. Morris has served as mayor and on the Denton town council for a combined 30 years.

Donnie Roberts/The Dispatch

"I found myself seated at a table with men twice or even three times my age," Morris said. "It was intimidating to say the least."

Morris, a native who graduated from Denton High School, has been serving as mayor for the past 10 years. Prior to that, he served on the Denton Board of Commissioners for 21 years. For most of the past three years, the mayor also split the duties of town manager with town clerk Genie Russell while Denton was without a town manager. Former Lexington City Manager John Gray was hired as the part-time, interim town manager beginning the first week of August.

Morris became interested in public service at an early age when he first ran for the board of commissioners in 1979. But political ambition runs strong in his family, and he ended up losing the race to his uncle, J.T. Davis, who beat him by eight votes. He didn't end up securing a seat on the board until 1981 when Rex Glover was mayor.

"I ended up serving on the board with that same uncle who beat me, so it all worked out," Morris said.

He would end up repeating the process in 1984, when he first attempted to run for mayor of Denton. This time his opponents would be Ray Kirkman and Bob Carroll. He came in second place in that election, and again in 1992, to Kirkman, who died this week. It wasn't until 2003 that Morris finally became the mayor of Denton.

Morris said things have changed in Denton since he first became involved with the daily business of running a town.

"It was very much a learning process," Morris said. "We went from having eight town employees to 25. We have gone from two policemen to five or six. Denton has grown and advanced, especially in the past three or four years."

Morris said some of the projects he remembers are ones the city is still struggling with today.

"The town sewage system was a big concern when I first started, and the sewage and water system is still a very important ongoing discussion," Morris said. "The water treatment plant has been upgraded twice since I have been in office."

Although being mayor of an up-and-coming town is a job within itself, Morris has also devoted a majority of his life to serving as a volunteer for the fire department. At some point over the past 35 years, he has served as captain, assistant chief, secretary, treasurer and safety officer at the Denton Volunteer Fire Department. When he is not running a town or putting out fires, Morris and his brother, Andy, a member of the town council, own Uwharrie Real Estate with offices in Southmont and Denton.

Some of the other "big projects" Morris remembers is moving the city hall into the library and upgrading the fire department. He is pleased with the progress that Denton has made over the years.

"We have gone from a small quiet town to a place with a planning and zoning board who has implemented a business plan," Morris said. "We are still a small town, but things are advancing, especially when it comes to technology and economic development."

As an example, Morris recalled years ago the fire department had a shared phone line all the volunteers would answer whenever a fire was reported.

"We each had a phone in our house, and when it rang everyone would answer at once," Morris said. "You would have half a dozen people talking, and you had to make everyone be quiet to understand where the fire was. Now we have the 911 dispatcher, and everyone gets the information on their cellphone."

Now 60 years old, Morris is ending his tenure as both mayor and town commissioner. He said he is deeply appreciative of the support he has received from town employees, current and former board members and officials from surrounding cities.

"It has been fulfilling to me to serve because I care so much for the community," Morris said. "The people have always been there for me, especially 12 years ago when my wife died. I have had great relationships with the county commissioners and the officials from Thomasville and Lexington who have helped us out on several occasions. I especially appreciate those board members I have worked with over the years. They are a great group, and it has been very rewarding."

Morris said although he is leaving as an elected official, he has no plans on going anywhere.

"I'm not retiring," he said. "I still have to make a living. Plus, I wouldn't rule out another run at commissioner, state House or even mayor again. I may have been in office for a long time, but I'm not that old. You haven't seen the last of me."

Sharon Myers can be reached at 249-3981, ext, 228 or at sharon.myers@the-dispatch.com.

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